Monday, 17 December 2012

The 1960s were an exciting time for women's liberation. The second wave of feminism was well under way, and women were freer than ever. Unfortunately, though, this swinging era was also blighted by the Vietnam War, which had a huge impact on the collective psyche of the generation. Vietnam nurses, the majority of them female, faced enemy bombs, bullets, shells, overwork, and horrible conditions. And the brutal warfare devastated both sides, physically and mentally.

Nursing was as noble a calling then as it is now, and the photographs of nurses during this period reflect an extraordinary combination of liberal cultural trends, harsh working environments, and making the most of a bad situation. Here are ten poignant snapshots of nurses stationed in Vietnam.